JAEGERS 41 



General offshore in September and October and again in 

 May and June, casual only in July and August, thus appearing 

 to occur in a similar manner to the preceding species. In the 

 northern breeding grounds two to four eggs are laid. A set 

 now at hand was taken from a nest of moss and grass on the 

 on the ground, Myvale, North Iceland, June 12, 1892, and the 

 eggs measure 2.52 x 1.54 and 2.43 x 1.56. The species is 

 stated to breed in small colonies or scattered pairs on islands 

 in ponds or lakes or on the shores. The eggs are olive green 

 with spots of brown and black scattered over the surface but 

 thickest at the larger ends. The Skuas and Jaegers are all 

 very similar in their habits and are indiscriminately called 

 Robber Gulls. A pair of these birds will pursue and harry 

 other species of Gulls, Terns and other seafowl until the victims 

 are forced to disgorge their stomach contents which are quickly 

 swallowed before they touch the water. Fish and almost any 

 kind of carrion floatsam and jetsam are eagerly eaten. 



38. Stercorarius longicaudus Vieill. Long-tailed Jaeger. 



Plumage in adults: above slaty fuscous; top of head and lores black; 

 sides of head and back of neck yellowish ; breast and belly white ; flanks 

 fuscous ; to be distinguished from the Parasitic Jaeger by the difference in 

 proportion of nasal shield mentioned in the key and by the tail which ranges 

 from 12.00 to 15.00 in length in adults. Immature plumage : similar to that 

 of the Parasitic Jaeger, from which examples are to be distinguished readily 

 by difference in proportion of basal shield to bill mentioned in the key; 

 Wing 11.50 to 13.00; culmen 1.15; tarsus 1.70. 



Geog. Dist. — Northern part of northern hemisphere, nesting in Arctic 

 regions such as Greenland, Anderson River region, etc.; in winter migrating 

 south to the Gulf of Mexico. 



County Records — Sagadahoc; not common, (Spinney). Washington; 

 common in fall, (Boardman). 



Though occurring more rarely than the two preceding species 

 along our coast, this species occurs at practically the same time 

 and probably under the same conditions. The nests are 

 reported to be similarly placed to those of the Parasitic Jaeger 

 and the eggs are described as similar in general appearance 

 but averaging slightly smaller in size, 2.16 x 1.54 (Ridgw.). 



